Attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth

ABSTRACT

An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth including a gudgeon member affixed to a natural tooth including a flat portion having a pinhole therein, a locking bar having at the first end a perpendicular extending pin portion of a diameter to be received in the gudgeon member pinhole and at the other end a hinge pin opening, a hinge pin pivotally received in the locking bar hinge pin opening, the hinge pin being adaptable to be affixed within a partial denture.

[451 June 27, 1972 United States Patent Mays 2,279,351 4/1942Skinnen.......................................32/5

[54] ATTACHMENT FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A PARTIAL DENTURE PrimaExaminerRobert Peshock TO AN ADJACENT NATURAL TOOTH & Johnson [72]inventor: Ralph C. Mays, 1139 North Gary Avenue,

' Tulsa, Okla. 741 10 Nov. 13, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT An attachment forremovably supporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural toothincluding a gudgeon member affixed to a natural tooth including a flatportion having a pinhole [22] Filed:

[2i] Appl. No.:

v U 5 Cl therein, a locking bar having at the first end a perpendicularextending pin portion of a diameter to be received in the [51] p gudgeonmember pinhole and at the other end a hinge pin [58] opening a hinge pinpivotauy received in the locking hinge pin opening, the hinge pin beingadaptable to be affixed References Cited within a partial denture.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHZ'I 1972v v 3.672.057

Cam'

. 6 U8 V 50 2 .29, I 22 l /4 12A 24 I28 I INVENTOR. BY RALPH c. MAYSATTORNEYS ATTACHMENT FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A PARTIAL DENTURE TO ANADJACENT NATURAL TOOTH BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONA high percentage of people are required, during some portion of theirlife, to wear partial dentures which are retained in position in themouth by support in one form or another to an adjacent natural tooth orbetween two spaced apart natural teeth. For many years the use ofvarious clasp type devices have been utilized by dentists, such devicesfitting firmly around adjacent natural teeth. While such devicesfunction satisfactorily, to an extent, they do have disadvantages andlimitations. One of the problems with clasp type devices is that inorder to securely hold the partial denture in place they must grasp thenatural tooth or teeth fairly securely. This means that as they areplaced in the mouth or removed strain and stress is placed on thenatural tooth or teeth. Of greater significance, clamps engaging anatural tooth tend to cause the tooth to move as the user chews foodwhich, after a length of time, can result in the impairment of thenatural tooth by the stress placed upon it by adjacent dentures.

In order to circumvent the disadvantage of clasp type partial denturesothers have suggested various types of apparatus for locking the partialdentures into place, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. l,727,653 and'3,436,825.

This invention provides an improved attachment means for removablysupporting a partial denture to a natural tooth and having advantagesover other known types of apparatus or means for supporting partialdentures. One of the advantages of the invention is the provision ofmeans whereby the pivotation of the partial denture during chewing cantake place around the attachment means with minimum stress and strain onthe natural tooth to which the partial denture is supported. Anotheradvantage of the attachment means of this invention is the safety of useobtained in that a positive locking means is achieved for locking apartial denture to a natural tooth, not depending upon springs ortension fits, thus eliminating the chance that the denture can bedislodged while the user is chewing sticky food, such as taffy candy, orwhile the user is asleep and possibly thereby become accidentallyswallowed.

In addition, the attachment means of this invention does not engage thegum tissues around the natural teeth to which it is affixed and thusdoes not irritate tissue as does some existing types of frictionclasping means. I

Another advantage of the attachment means of this invention is that itis designed for use interiorly' of the partial dentures and thereby ishidden from view from the outside of the mouth for improved appearanceof the user. Another ad vantage is the ease of removing the attachmentmeans when it is desired to remove the partial denture from the mouth.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedattachment for removably supporting a partial denture to a naturaltooth.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide anattachment for removably supporting a partial denture to an adjacentnatural tooth having the advantages and improvements aforementioned.

Still more particularly, an object of this invention is to provide anattachment for removably supporting a partial denture to a natural toothincluding a gudgeon member adaptable to be afiixed to a natural tooth,the member having a pinhole opening therein, a locking bar having oneend adaptable to be pivotally supported to a partial denture, the otherend having an extending pin portion which, when pivoted to the closedposition, extends within the pinhole in the gudgeon member for lockingthe partial denture into position.

These and otherobjects will be fulfilled by the attachment means to nowbe described in the following specification and claims, taken inconjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF VIEWS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the elements makingup the denture attachment of this invention.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a gudgeon member portion of theattachment of this invention having improved stabilizing means.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the gudgeon member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an alternate embodiment of this inventionwherein the gudgeon member extends between spaced apart caps adaptableto be positioned upon spaced apart natural teeth to support a removablepartial denture therebetween.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the partial denture for use with the gudgeonmember of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a view of the partial denture of FIG. 3B in position on thegudgeon member of FIG. 3A showing the locking bar in open position.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a reinforcing member which may be used withthe basic elements of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is an end view of the reinforcing member of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a cutaway view of a portion of the lower jaw (in dottedoutline) of a typical patient utilizing and showing a parrial dentureincorporating the attachment means in a locked position.

FIG. 5B shows the arrangement of FIG. 5A but showing the attachmentmeans locking bar in open position and the partial denture removed fromlocked position.

FIG. 6A is an isometric view of the lower jaw (in dotted'outline)showing the application of the invention to a partial denture in whichfalse teeth are provided on each side of the mouth and showing theapplication of the attachment means of this invention.

FIG. 6B is a top view of the arrangement of FIG. 6A showing the upperportion of the partial denture partially cutaway -to show'the attachmentmeans of this invention with the locking bar in closed position in solidoutline and in open position in dotted outline and showing theattachment means in closed position in the lower portion of the partialdenture.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 58.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the inventionincluding a case portion.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8A- 8A of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, thebasic elements making up the invention are shown. The invention is anattachment for removably supporting a partial denture to an adjacentnatural tooth and includes three essential elements which are: (l) agudgeon member generally indicated by the numeral 10 which is adaptableto be affixed'to a natural tooth;

(2) a locking bar 12; and (3) a hinge pin 14 which pivotally supportsthe locking bar and is adaptable to be affixed within a partial denture.

The gudgeon member includes, in its most elementary form, a flat portionI6 which extends in the plane of the alveolar ridge adjacent to thenatural tooth on which the partial denture is to be positioned. The flatportion has a pinhole 18 therein, the axis of which is perpendicular tothe plane of the flat portion. In the preferred arrangement theconfiguration of g the periphery of the flat portion 16 is circularexcept that portion immediately adjacent to the natural tooth from whichit secured to it. The flat portion 16 may be secured integrally eitherby casting the cap 20 and flat portion 16 simultaneously or by weldingor fusing the fiat portion 16 to the cap 20.

Locking bar 12 has a first end 12A and a second end 128. The first end12A includes a perpendicular extending integral pin portion 22 of adiameter to be received in the pinhole 18 of the gudgeon member. Thefirst end 12A in addition includes an integral reduced width graspingprojection 24 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the locking bar andat the side thereof opposite the pin portion 22. The grasping portion 24is adaptable to be grasped with a fingernail of the user for pivotationof the locking bar and moving it from closed to opened position as willbe described in more detail sub sequently.

The second end 128 of locking bar 12 includes a hinge pin opening 26,the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the pin portion 22.The diameter of opening 26 is such as to pivotally receive hinge pin 14.

Referring to FIGS. A and 53 a typical partial denture incorporating theattachment means of this invention is shown. The partial denture isindicated generally by the numeral 28 and includes two artificial molars30A and 30B, and an artificial bicuspid tooth 32. The partial 28 issupported to a natural bicuspid tooth indicated generally by the numeral34. The natural bicuspid tooth 34 is encompassed by a cap 20 having thegudgeon member flat portion 16 integrally extending therefrom. Thepartial denture 28 is of the usual type having plastic portion 28Aresembling the gums and including a recess 28B configured to conform tothe alveolar ridge 36 of the patient in the area from which the naturalteeth are missing. A slot 38 is formed in the denture artificial gumportion 28A and pivotally receives the locking bar 12.

The recess 288 formed in the partial denture 28 includes a narrowportion 28C (see FIG. 7) of a width to snugly but pivotally receive theflat portion 16 of the gudgeon member. In order to reinforce the narrowportion 28C of the recess 28B the use of a reinforcing member 40, asbest shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 7, may be employed. The reinforcingmember 40 is a small metallic element having a U-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration of an interior width to snugly but pivotally receive thefiat portion 16 of gudgeon member 10. The reinforcing member has anopening 42 therein which receives the pin portion 22 of the locking armwhen the locking arm is in closed position so that, when in closedposition, the pin portion 22 extends through the opening 42 in thereinforcing member and opening 18 in the gudgeon member flat portion.While the use of the reinforcing member 40 is not mandatory to theapplication of the invention its use is recommended since most partialdentures are formed of plastic or ceramics, or a combination of both,and the metal reinforcing member adds increased life to the partialdenture.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show another illustration of the method of utilizing theinvention. In this arrangement a partial is provided having left andright false teeth to either side of the incisors and canine teeth of theuser, the portions of the partial denture being indicated by thenumerals 44A and 44B. The portions 44A and 44B are connected by a metalbar 44C which extends between the two and conforms as closely aspossible to the interior configuration of the forward part of the user'smouth. The attachment of this invention is utilized as previouslydiscussed with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the only difference beingthat attachment is provided in both portions 44A and 44B so that whenboth locking bars are in closed position the partial is secured to bothsides of the mouth of the user.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show an additional alternate application of theinvention. FIG. 3A shows an arrangement of a gudgeon member extendingbetween two caps which are configured to be secured over preparednatural teeth. Opening 18 is provided in the gudgeon. In addition, anotch 46 is configured in the gudgeon member adjacent one of the caps20. FIG. 3B shows a side view of a two artificial teeth partial for usewith the gudgeon member of FIG. 3A. The hinge pin 14 secured in thepartial denture 28 and the locking bar 12 is pivoted around the hingepin 14 in a slot 38 as previously described. In addition, the partialdenture 28 of FIG. 3B includes an integral projecting portion 48 which,when the partial is placed in position on the gudgeon of FIG. 3A, isfitted into the notch 46. Locking bar 12 is then placed in closedposition as shown in dotted outline in FIG. SC to lock the partial intoposition. While FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show the arrangement wherein twoartificial teeth are interposed between two spaced apart natural teethwith the gudgeon member extending therebetween such arrangement may beused whether there is one, two, three or more artificial teeth making upthe denture partial.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an alternate embodiment of the gudgeon portion 10.The alternate arrangement includes an integral stabilizer portion 16A asa part of the flat portion 16 extending from cap 20. Stabilizer portion16A is adjacent the cap 20 and, when applied to a partial denture of thetype shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 68 extends within the narrow portion28C of the recess in the partial denture, or within reinforcing member40, to add stability to the partial denture.

In a sense, the invention encompasses a partial denture and one or morecapped normal teeth to which the denture is supported. However, inpractical application, every partial denture is custom made to theprecise configuration of the mouth of the user. Thus the practicingdental technician will utilize the invention by incorporating the basicelements thereof including those shown in FIG. 1 and preferablyincluding also the reinforcing member of FIGS. 4A and 48 intocustom-made partial dentures.

An additional alternate embodiment of the invention includes a lockingmeans to prevent the locking bar from inadvertently being moved from theclosed position. The first end 12A of the locking bar includes a lockingrecess 50 between the pin portion 22 and the grasping projection 24 (SeeFIG. I A spring lock 52 (See FIG. 7) is encompassed in the partialdenture adjacent recess 28C. When the locking bar 12 is in closedposition the spring lock 52 engages the locking recess 50 to prevent thelocking bar being moved from closed position until sufficient force isapplied to the grasping projection. The spring lock 52 may be supportedto the reinforcing member 40 to simplify casting of this element with adenture.

FIGS. 8, 8A and 8B show an alternate embodiment of the invention. A case54 has an opening 54A in one end which receives pivot pin 14. Thelocking bar 12 is pivoted to the case 54, which preferably is of aU-shaped cross-sectional configuration to receive the locking bar atleast partially therein in the manner that the blade is received in apocket knife. Integral with the case, and at the end thereof oppositeopening 54A, is enlarged portion 548 having a recess 54C. The gudgeonmember 16 is pivotally received in recess 54C. This embodiment isself-contained with the case 54, having locking bar 12, ready to beincorporated directly into a partial denture.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understoodthat the invention is subject to a great variety of alternateembodiments each of which will be predicated upon the specific partialdenture required to fill the needs of individual users. It is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the specific exemplary embodimentsset forth herein but only by the scope of the claim or claims, includingthe full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof isentitled.

What is claimed:

1. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth comprising:

a gudgeon member adaptable to be affixed to a natural tooth including afiat portion extending in the plane of the alveolar ridge adjacent thenatural tooth on which a denture is to be positioned, the flat portionhaving a pinhole therein the axis of which is perpendicular the plane ofthe flat portion;

a locking bar having a first and second end, the first end having aperpendicular extending integral pin portion of a diameter to bereceived, when the locking bar is in closed position, in said gudgeonmember pinhole, the second end having a hinge pin opening therein, theaxis of the hinge pin opening being perpendicular the plane of the pinportion; and

a hinge pin pivotally received in said locking bar hinge pin opening,the hinge pin being adaptable to be received in a partial denture.

2, An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 wherein said flat portion ofsaid gudgeon member is circular in all of the exterior configurationsexcept that portion adjacent the part adaptable to be atfixed to anatural tooth, the pinhole being in the center of such circularperipheral configuration.

3. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 wherein said locking barfirst end includes an integral reduced width grasping portion projectingparallel the longitudinal axis of the locking bar and at the sidethereof opposite said pin portion, such grasping portion being adaptableto be grasped with the fingernail for pivotation of the locking bar.

4. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 wherein said gudgeon memberis an integral portion of a cap adaptable to be secured over a preparednatural tooth.

5. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 wherein said gudgeon memberis in the form of a fiat bar extending between spaced-apart naturalteeth, the plane of said bar being in the plane of the alveolar ridgebetween the natural teeth, and said pinhole being adjacent one of thenatural teeth.

6. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 5 wherein said gudgeon memberfiat bar has a cap portion at each end thereof, each cap portion beingadaptable to be secured over a prepared natural tooth.

7. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 including means of retainingthe locking bar in closed position.

8. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 7 wherein said locking barfirst end includes a locking recess adjacent said pin portion, andincluding a spring lock member adaptable to be received in a partialdenture and positionable therein to engage said locking recess when saidlocking bar is in closed position.

9. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 including a case memberhaving, at one end thereof, an opening receiving said hinge pin wherebysaid locking bar is pivotally supported thereto, and having, at theother end thereof, a recess for pivotally receiving said gudgeon member.

10. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 9 wherein said case member isU-shaped in cross-section in a plane perpendicular the longitudinal axisand configured to partially receive said locking bar therein throughoutsubstantially the full length of said locking bar when in the closedposition.

i t 8 i t

1. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth comprising: a gudgeon member adaptable to beaffixed to a natural tooth including a flat portion extending in theplane of the alveolar ridge adjacent the natural tooth on which adenture is to be positioned, the flat portion having a pinhole thereinthe axis of which is perpendicular the plane of the flat portion; alocking bar having a first and second end, the first end having aperpendicular extending integral pin portion of a diameter to bereceived, when the locking bar is in closed position, in said gudgeonmember pinhole, the second end having a hinge pin opening therein, theaxis of the hinge pin opening being perpendicular the plane of the pinportion; and a hinge pin pivotally received in said locking bar hingepin opening, the hinge pin being adaptable to be received in a partialdenture.
 2. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture toan adjacent natural tooth according to claim 1 wherein said flat portionof said gudgeon member is circular in all of the exterior configurationsexcept that portion adjacent the part adaptable to be affixed to anatural tooth, the pinhole being in the center of such circularperipheral configuration.
 3. An attachment for removably supporting apartial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according to claim 1wherein said locking bar first end includes an integral reduced widthgrasping portion projecting parallel the longitudinal axis of thelocking bar and at the side thereof opposite said pin portion, suchgrasping portion being adaptable to be grasped with the fingernail forpivotation of the locking bar.
 4. An attachment for removably supportinga partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according to claim 1wherein said gudgeon member is an integral portion of a cap adaptable tobe secured over a prepared natural tooth.
 5. An attachment for removablysupporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according toclaim 1 wherein said gudgeon member is in the form of a flat barextending between spaced-apart natural teeth, the plane of said barbeing in the plane of the alveolar ridge between the natural teeth, andsaid pinhole being adjacent one of the natural teeth.
 6. An attachmentfor removably supporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural toothaccording to claim 5 wherein said gudgeon member flat bar has a capportion at each end thereof, each cap portion being adaptable to besecured over a prepared natural tooth.
 7. An attachment for removablysupporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according toclaim 1 including means of retaining the locking bar in closed position.8. An attachment for removably supporting a partial denture to anadjacent natural tooth according to claim 7 wherein said locking barfirst end includes a locking recess adjacent said pin portion, andincluding a spring lock member adaptable to be received in a partialdenture and positionable therein to engage said locking recess when saidlocking bar is in closed position.
 9. An attachment for removablysupporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according toclaim 1 including a case member having, at one end thereof, an openingreceiving said hinge pin whereby said Locking bar is pivotally supportedthereto, and having, at the other end thereof, a recess for pivotallyreceiving said gudgeon member.
 10. An attachment for removablysupporting a partial denture to an adjacent natural tooth according toclaim 9 wherein said case member is U-shaped in cross-section in a planeperpendicular the longitudinal axis and configured to partially receivesaid locking bar therein throughout substantially the full length ofsaid locking bar when in the closed position.